Bottle Bill, Property Tax Changes Favored In Poll

May 21, 1986|The Morning Call

A majority of those who responded to a recent mail survey by state Rep. Keith McCall, D-122nd District, favor a returnable-deposit bottle law in the state and the reduction or elimination of real estate taxes.

McCall said the survey respondents were about evenly split on the question of a mandatory auto seat belt law, and a large number said they are opposed to the establishment of private prisons in Pennsylvania.

Nearly nine of 10 who responded (87 percent) said they favor a state bottle law to deal with the problem of beverage container litter, and 85 percent of those completing the poll like the idea of a returnable deposit rather than a tax on beverages to fund a litter cleanup program. A little more than one in 10 (11.2 percent) opposed enactment of a bottle law.

In response to the question, "Would you favor a reduction or elimination of the property tax, even if it meant a corresponding increase in the local wage or income tax?" 67 percent said "yes," 27 percent said "no," and the remainder had no opinion.

A total of 49 percent favored passage of a mandatory seat belt law in the state, with fines for non-compliance, but almost as many, 46 percent, said they oppose such a law.

On the issue of privately owned and operated prisons, on which the General Assembly has voted a one-year moratorium pending a state government study of the matter, 47 percent of the respondents were opposed to private prisons, while 34 percent favored the idea; the remainder had no opinion.

More than 1,000 residents of the district participated in the survey, McCall said.